Rope Management System for watersports activities

ABSTRACT

On any given powerboat and any given day on the water the activities of different types of riders/watersports enthusiasts may need ski ropes of different lengths to encompass the experience level of the rider and or the type of watersports activity. The type of powerboat, the experience level of the rider, the amount of wake generated at given distances “off” the powerboat can vary. It is beneficial to be able to adjust the “off” distance of the rider from the powerboat to ensure the rider can use the optimal portion of the powerboats wake to perform tricks. This patent will describe a device that will enable the controlled dispensing, retraction and storage of the ski rope, free from tangles and knots while providing a means to measure, adjust and control the “off” distance of the ski rope for all types of watersports activities and rider experience levels.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA

Provisional application No. 61/366,120 filed on Jul. 20 2010, RopeManagement System for watersports activities

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of watersports, where aperson may be pulled by a powerboat. Watersports are defined as varioussports, such as skiing, slalom skiing, wake skating, wake surfing,wakeboarding, barefoot skiing and ski jumping. This patent specificallyrelates to a new invention that can be used during watersports forcontrolled dispensing, retracting and storage of the ski rope whileproviding a means to positively measure, adjust and control the “off”distance of the ski rope while eliminating the opportunity for tangleswhile being attachable and detachable from the powerboat's wakeboardtower or ski pylon or other suitable location. The present inventionincorporates several features that enable the watersports enthusiast toquickly dispense, use and retract the ski rope for aggravation free use.

2. Background Of The Invention

Watersports enthusiasts are always looking to quickly get out on thewater with little delay. Watersports such as skiing, wakeboarding, wakeskating and wake surfing, slalom skiing and skiing all require the useof a ski rope. The ski rope can be an item that, when stored using thecurrent art on a boat, may become tangled, causing knots in the ski ropeand delays when getting onto the water. Furthermore, depending on thewatersport of personnel choice, different ski rope lengths may berequired. The length of the ski rope is called the ski rope “off”distance, meaning the distance off the back of the powerboat the skirope provides the enthusiast. The length of ski rope needed forwakeboarding is different than wake surfing which is different thanslalom skiing. Furthermore, depending on experience level of thewatersports enthusiast the ski rope length may be different. Forinstance two different wakeboarders may want different ski rope lengthsbecause of different skill levels, riding styles and wakeboard styles.Current art consists of three areas; Ski rope that requires manualknotting, ski rope requires several pre-determined loops or any of theseveral attempts that have been made to use mechanisms to dispense andretract the ski rope all requiring improvement to the art. The currentart does not enable usage across all the various skill levels,activities or possibility of riders and riding styles. The current artalso does not allow for consistent and accurate off distances to bemeasured and maintained as well as a means to ensure non-consecutiveinterlaced rope layers are formed on the rope spool.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is to provide a new way for controlled dispensing,retracting and storage of the ski rope while providing a means topositively measure, adjust and control the “off” distance of the skirope. The present invention will eliminate ski rope tangles and knots aswell as provide a means to infinitely vary the ski rope off distance.The present invention is called a ski rope management system forwatersports activities because it will manage all aspects of theemployment of ski ropes providing consistent, time effective, repeatableusage for a more enjoyable time on the water while providing theenthusiast with consistent ski rope performance. In summary, the newdesign method for a ski rope management system for watersportsactivities employs a number of novel design features as follows:

-   -   A rope containment system that stores and enables dispensing and        retraction of a ski rope while maintaining the ski rope from        tangles and knots. The system has the ability to work with        various ski rope types, materials etc. A location to store the        ski rope handle while system is not in use. System contains a        novel means to ensure ski rope is retracted without        non-consecutive interlaced rope layers that would interfere with        consistent tangle free ski rope usage.    -   A ski rope measurement feature that enables the controlled        accurate feedback measurement of a ski rope for consistent ski        rope off distance from the powerboat, the system also consists        of a locking feature to lock the ski rope length where desired.    -   A feature to display the ski rope length. The length display,        along with the ski rope length lock will provide repeatable ski        rope off distances from use to use. This display is contained        within the system but may also be transmitted to a control panel        found at the helm of the powerboat.    -   A mounting system that will enable mounting of the system to a        variety of wakeboard tower designs and ski pylon designs with a        bearing feature that will allow for rotation of the system for        most efficient and consistent ski rope movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The features of the present invention and the manner of attaining themwill become apparent, and the invention itself will be understood byreferences to the following description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1: This figure shows a single embodiment of the assembled presentinvention. This invention would be mounted as shown on a wakeboard towerof plurality designs or in place of the ski pylon of plurality designswhile containing the ski rope and mechanisms to fulfill describedclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows eight elements to be discussed. 1 illustrates the ski ropestorage, dispensing and retraction housing. The housing can be made froma plurality of different materials. The housing may also have aplurality of different variations in size and shape allowing for theplurality of different possible configurations. Inside element 1, is acentral ski rope shaft in which the ski rope is attached. This centralski rope shaft provides for the ability to store, dispense, retract andcontrol the length of the ski rope. Inside this element is a device toprovide for locking of the ski rope length while not damaging orexcessively wearing the ski rope surface. This device also provides forconstant tension on the ski rope within the housing to ensure the skirope does not develop tangles or knots and removes the possibility toget non-consecutive interlaced rope layers on the spool. Also insideelement 1 is a device to measure the length of ski rope that has beendispensed with controlled feedback, this device can be mechanical innature or electronic in nature depending on the variation of the design.2 Illustrates the wakeboard tower mounting bracket. The bracket shownwould be used to mount to a circular tube wakeboard tower of pluralitydiameters. The mounting bracket may also be designed to attach to arectangular section wakeboard tower of plurality designs. The mountingbracket may also be of a design that allows for replacement of typicalski pylons as another form of attachment to the powerboat. 3 illustratethe digital camcorder mounting plate, which may vary is shape and sizeto enable mounting of a plurality of digital camcorder designs. 4illustrate the ski rope length adjustment lever. This lever enablesunwinding and lengthening of the ski rope to the desired length for thedesired ski distance off the boat. This lever actuates a lockingmechanism that holds the ski rope at the desired length. This lever maybe of plurality of designs, shapes and sizes. The lock may be lever bydesign or by a plurality of other designs including the use of a buttonwhich electrically controls the locking device. 5 Illustrates a displaythat shows the length of ski rope that has been unwound from the skirope housing 1. This display may be of various designs, either digitalor analog in display and function. 6 and 8 illustrates the bearingattachment between the ski rope housing 1 and mounting bracket 2. Thisbearing enables free rotation between the mount and ski rope housing.This movement enables better ski rope operation while the ski rope isbeing used by a watersports enthusiast. 7 Illustrates a piece of a skirope section.

It should be understood that the geometry, compositions and dimensionsof the elements described herein can be modified within the scope of theinvention and are not intended to be exclusive; rather, they can bemodified within the scope of the invention.

1) Apparatus for eliminating the tangling and knotting of ski rope dueto storage and implementation; Apparatus comprising a means formechanically controlling ski rope storage and implementation. 2)Apparatus for eliminating non-consecutive interlaced tensile member(rope, wire, string, etcetera) layers on a spool, apparatus comprisingof a means that applies continuous opposing tensile forces to tensilemember during rotational movement and stationary position of spool. 3)Apparatus for enabling repeatable and variable ski rope lengths forvarious usages and riders from use to use, apparatus comprising a meansto measure ski rope length while providing controlled feedback, thefixing of the ski rope at the desired length by means of device causingopposing side friction. 3.1) A method comprising infinitely varying theski rope “off” length by controlling and simultaneously measuringdispensed ski rope with controlled feedback. 4) Apparatus forwatersports/ski rope storage and implementation comprising; A ski ropedispensing and retracting spool with means to maintain ski rope free oftangles and knots; A system to eliminate the non-consecutive interlacedrope layers on the dispensing and retracting spool; A mechanical and orelectronic device to measure ski rope length from said spool with meansto display dispensed ski rope length measurement with controlledfeedback; A means to provide fixing of ski rope length at desiredlocation along length of ski rope